Martin Ifedi to Rams: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

The St. Louis Rams were all about offense in the first six rounds—they used all seven picks on offensive players—but defense dominated the seventh round. 

The Rams used the No. 227 pick in the final round to select defensive end Martin Ifedi of Memphis. This pick came shortly after the selection of linebacker Bryce Hager at No. 224. 

The St. Louis offense was in desperate need of repair. It's no surprise that the first six rounds were dedicated to that side of the ball. Having said that, it was important for the Rams to address the defense to some extent. 

The St. Louis defense is extremely stout, which is why the Rams had the luxury of holding off on defensive draft picks. That extremely talented defensive unit will make it hard for the late-round rookies to make an impact. 

Regardless, Ifedi will show up to training camp at Earth City, Missouri, as the Rams' final 2015 draft pick, and he'll be expected to compete and fight for an opportunity to fulfill his dream.

How Martin Ifedi Fits with the Rams

It's not easy for any defensive lineman to fit in with the Rams, let alone a mid-seventh-round pick from Memphis—not exactly a powerhouse program when it comes to producing NFL talent. 

The front four for St. Louis is ferocious. Robert Quinn and Chris Long are the starting edge-rushers, while Michael Brockers and second-year Pro Bowler Aaron Donald will man the middle. 

All four starters are former top-15 draft picks. Even the No. 5 man on the line—new free-agent addition Nick Fairley—was the No. 13 overall pick in 2011. 

That's five top-15 picks on the defensive line. And veteran backups William Hayes and Eugene Sims are quite solid as well—both players could potentially start for many 4-3 NFL defenses. 

How can a seventh-round defensive end from a relatively small program be expected to compete with that? 

It seems like a long shot for Ifedi, but it's not impossible. If you recall training camp in 2014, an undrafted free-agent rookie named Ethan Westbrooks managed to impress the Rams and make the roster. Westbrooks faced similar unfavorable odds. 

Due to Westbrooks' story, it's hard to call Ifedi's chances of making the team nonexistent. He has a chance regardless of how talented the unit is. 

If he finds a way to contribute on special teams, he'll have a chance. And in the meantime, he'll get to learn the position from some of the league's best. 

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Initial Reaction and Grade for Ifedi Pick

While it's never surprising to see a defensive coach like Fisher grab a new defensive lineman, it'll be interesting to hear the logic behind this pick. 

With so many talented players on the defensive line and promising youngsters like Westbrooks waiting in the wings, it's hard to see how this selection really improves the Rams as a whole. It will give Westbrooks some competition, but it won't accomplish much else. 

It seems that adding another linebacker or a defensive back—both positions are much bigger needs than defensive end—would have been more profitable for St. Louis. 

The Rams must really be high on Ifedi. According to NFL.com, he set a school record at Memphis with 22.5 career sacks. He has potential as a pass-rusher, but so does every other lineman on the Rams. 

It was a confusing selection, but Fisher knows defensive linemen. It'd be best to have faith in his judgement. 

Grade: C+